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Hundreds of Fossils Reveal Squids’ Evolutionary Origins and Early Dominance (Maria) 

The author writes, “Sometimes, being squishy is the key to success. Modern cephalopods — which include squids, octopuses and cuttlefish — are known for their soft, pliable bodies, a trait that makes them faster and more agile in the water than their shelled ancestors. But because soft tissues rarely fossilize, the evolutionary origins of these iconic animals remain mysterious. Now, research published today in Science demonstrates a new way to uncover squid fossils — and reveals that the critters started to dominate Earth’s oceans much earlier than previously thought.” 

US Sees Spate of Arrests of Civilians Impersonating ICE Officers (Dana) 

The author writes, “The arrest is one of several cases involving people allegedly impersonating immigration officials, as the nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants intensifies. Experts have warned that federal agents’ increased practice of masking while carrying out immigration raids and arrests makes it easier for imposters to pose as federal officers. Around the country, the sight of ICE officers emerging from unmarked cars in plainclothes to make arrests has become increasingly common…Mike German, a former FBI agent and fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, told the Guardian last week that the shootings of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, by a suspect who allegedly impersonated a police officer, highlights the danger of police not looking like police.”

More Than a Third of This Country’s Population Has Applied To Relocate (Laura) 

From CNN: “More than a third of the population of Tuvalu has applied to move to Australia, under a landmark visa scheme designed to help people escape rising sea levels. The island nation – roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia – is home to about 10,000 people, according to the latest government statistics, living across a clutch of tiny islets and atolls in the South Pacific. With no part of its territory above six meters, it is one of the most at-risk places in the world to rising seas caused by climate change.”

How DeSantis Leaned on Emergency Powers To Build ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Days (Reader Steve) 

The author writes, “Nearly three years ago, when Hurricane Ian destroyed a bridge in southwest Florida and left residents on a barrier island with scant access to drinking water and food, Gov. Ron DeSantis leveraged his emergency authority to scramble contractors to reconstruct the bridge. It took less than three days. Now, the Republican governor is wielding those same powers for something different: building an immigration detention center deep in the Everglades in a week. Relying on an emergency order issued in January 2023 in response to a flood of Cuban and Haitian migrants arriving by boat in the Florida Keys, DeSantis is seizing county land, mobilizing a team of private companies to build a facility big enough to hold 3,000 detained immigrants and deploying Florida National Guard troops to secure the site. The rush of migrant arrivals ended long ago, but the order, which cites then-President Joe Biden’s ‘inadequate’ response to immigration, has been repeatedly extended.”

The Supreme Court Just Imposed a ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Regime on Every Public School in America (Laryn) 

From Vox: “Lawyers can search for schools that teach books with LGBTQ+ characters, find a parent who objects to those books, and then sue and demand that the school district pay their client’s bills. School districts that don’t want to be treated like an ATM for anti-LGBTQ+ lawyers, meanwhile, will only be able to avoid these lawsuits by excluding queer-themed books from the classroom entirely. The Supreme Court, in other words, has decided that in order to accommodate one identity group — religious conservatives — schools should be hypercautious about teaching books that feature members of another identity group — LGBTQ+ people.”

A Billionaire Trump Backer Is Desperate to Stop Zohran Mamdani (Sean) 

The author writes, “Billionaire Bill Ackman and his rich friends want someone, anyone, to bring down Zohran Mamdani. Their pitch: take our money, it won’t be much time and energy, and maybe you’ll get famous enough to use the campaign as a stepping stone to higher office.”